15. Barrett
BARRETT
E yes like storm clouds, churning with the promise of destruction. Something familiar tugged in the back of my mind.
Where had I seen them before? Or…had I ever?
“We’ll go in in teams of four,” Damien said, and I blinked, drawn from the thoughts that had overshadowed all else since I’d sparred with Micah’s bonded the day before.
Thalia.
I’d never heard that name before, couldn’t place any possible connection to my past. I wondered what family she came from, if they might have known mine. Her scent of black spruce and wintergreen had hit me so hard, it left me fucking speechless.
And the way she fought... It wasn’t like the warriors of the Order. It was raw, more instinctive than training.
Damien continued, and I watched him, still weary, his face lingering in my mind from when he had watched on high as I was thrown to the wolves.
“Ansel, Jasper, and Eunice’s teams will man the perimeter.
Focus on bringing down any guards before they can alert anyone of our approach and keep watch while we’re inside. ”
“We have limited knowledge of what’s happening within Nastra’s walls,” Lucia started, and every set of eyes shifted to where she stood at the wood table in the center of the room.
A map was laid out, detailing the location of the fortress we were to infiltrate.
“There is no telling how many guards are present, who is in charge, or whether they have successfully revived The Pits. The team we sent to observe noted some activity a week ago. We take no chances; everyone comes home. If there are captives, we get them out.”
I raised my hand, and Lucia’s brows rose. “Yes, Barrett?”
“Given I’m a bit new to the mission, can you explain exactly what The Pits are?” I asked.
Some turned to her, brows rising in curiosity, but some dropped their gazes, and I wondered if they knew.
“Some of you were with us the last time we brought them down, but for those of you who weren’t, The Pits were an illegal underground fighting ring operated by a group of criminals in Erebus’ territory, Tenebria.
They focus their efforts on kidnapping children from both realms, binding the children to the Pit Master’s will and forcing them to fight in The Pits. ”
Micah’s body tensed next to me, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes the coldest I’d ever seen. He’d been in a foul mood all morning, and for some reason, Lucia’s words seemed to feed his anger.
Lucia continued, “It’s a den where cruel souls go to gamble, bet on fighters, and purchase warrior slaves. The Pits are no normal fighting ring; they not only force captives to fight against each other but against terrible creatures.”
I couldn’t imagine a child being forced into something so terrible.
“When we found The Pits ten years ago, we discovered they had taken some of our own,” she said, and I blinked. How had our own children been taken?
“Sadly, many of them died during their captivity, but we were able to save one, along with countless other fae and even a few humans who now live among us,” Damien explained.
“The Pit Master was brought down, and the survivors who served under him scattered. Most of the victims were reunited with their families. Our mission is to ensure that this organization is destroyed once and for all.”
Another hand rose. “Will Erebus be assisting us in this mission, as it’s within his territory?”
Lucia glanced at Damien before he answered. “Erebus cooperated with us in the past, allowing us passage. He sent some of his warriors to assist us last time, but he will not be involved in this mission.”
“Does anyone have any questions beyond what we’ve gone over?” Lucia asked .
The room remained silent.
Lucia lifted her head, her voice solid as stone.
“You were provided with maps of the surrounding area and what we have on the interior, as well as any additional details you may need to prepare. Everything you have is everything we know. We leave this evening at sundown for Selene’s Temple, where we will pass to Tenebria. ”
I looked down at the piece of parchment clutched in my hand, fearing what exactly we were going to find in this place.
“You’re dismissed,” Damien said, and everyone began to file out of the room.
“You good?” I asked, glancing at Micah as he lingered, leaning against the wall.
“Just ready to destroy this place,” he said, his voice ice cold.
“Lucia!” We both froze at the sound of Thalia’s voice, Micah’s eyes darting to her as she forced her way through the departing warriors.
Lucia and Damien stiffened as they looked at one another before turning to her.
“What’s wrong?” Lucia asked.
“I’m going with you,” Thalia said, and Micah’s body tensed.
He stormed forward. “You said you would stay behind.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
Lucia lifted her hand. “I swore I would never ask you go back there and?—”
“You aren’t asking,” Thalia said. “I’m volunteering.”
They didn’t speak, and Damien drew in a heavy breath.
Thalia continued. “Don’t ask me to stay behind. I’m the only one who knows how that shithole works, how to navigate the tunnels.”
I frowned before realization dawned on me, my chest constricting.
We were able to save one.
Micah looked pained. “Thalia?—"
“Let me help you destroy that place, Lucia,” she said. “Don’t make me stay when I can help.”
The room went silent.
“I want to see that place burn as much as you do, Thalia,” Lucia said hesitantly. “Are you sure?”
The promise of death danced within Thalia’s stormy eyes. “I will do whatever it takes to destroy anything that remains of that vile place.”